ABSTRACT
Background@#Chronic hepatitis B infection is endemic in the Philippines, where there is a large population of seafarers, a group considered high risk for HBV infection. As such, epidemiological data on this population group is vital for the targeted approach on health- related policies.@*Objective@#To establish the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection among seafarers who underwent pre-employment medical examination (PEME) at Association of Maritime Officers and Seafarers’ Union of the Philippines-Seamen’s Hospital (AMOSUP-SH) from 2013-2017.@*Methods@#3696 charts were included for review. Charts with positive HbsAg results were sorted, counted, and analyzed. Subsequent data extraction was done on age, sex, marital status, religion, position on board, history of STD and prior surgeries, presence of tattoos, and the result of HIV and syphilis serology test. These were then described using frequency and percentage.@*Results@#4.17% (n=154) were HbsAg positive. All were male with a mean age of 44 years old. Majority were married (134, 87%), catholic (149, 96.7%) and on deck position (84, 54.5%). 29.8% had identifiable risk factors and these were surgical history (37, 24.03%) and body tattoos (11, 7.14%) while none had a history of STD and a positive test for HIV and syphilis.@*Conclusions@#The level of HBsAg seroprevalence among Filipino seafarer is at the low intermediate level of endemicity.